It began two months earlier with some lines on a relatively recent topographical map, and the abbreviation “Cem.” The lines were in the form of a rectangle not far north of an old farm that had once been one of the homesteads of the Vancampen family. A check of various sources turned up references to a “Vancampen cemetery,” and I was intrigued. I had visited the nearby graveyard of the Depues, and thought that was all the mortuary evidence that the vanished town of Calno had to offer. But here were hints of another, where I would find the headstones of the patriarchs and matriarchs of one of New Jersey’s original pioneer families. I made two trips to the location, searching the deep woods to the north where I thought the map pointed, to no avail. On my third trip I had simply happened to look in the right direction, at the right time, while passing up the narrow lane to the farm. There were two newish-looking headstones, resting in a little niche that had been carved out of the undergrowth, on a rise maybe 200 feet north of the road. It was the work of a few minutes to reach these graves, the last resting places of George and Mary Vancampen, and Walter Vancampen and Mallie Sutton.
The stones were in good shape and more recent, the latest one dating from 1954; recent enough to still have living nuclear family around to keep the gravesite as tidy as possible. Beyond I saw hints of other stones deep in the greenery. The brush was simply fearsome: as bad as anything I have been in. Thick thorn bushes and vines were everywhere. However someone had pushed a slight path onward and deeper into the thicket, whether animal or human, and it was this I determined to follow. This had not originally been a bushwhacking trip, and I was not prepared for deep stuff. They call it “bushwhacking” for a simple reason: to get through you need to get a big knife and whack bushes. With no cutters or even a knife on hand, no thick gloves, and short sleeves I was not equipped to move forward. But the site of older stones deeper in got the better of me. I could just follow this older gap, and come back out the same way. Foolproof!
Not to over-dramatize this. The area I was in is remote by New Jersey standards, and at 7:30 in the evening there are very few people on the nearby roads. However I had a cel phone, and at times a bar of signal strength. I could call for help if I really, really needed to. As it turned out I did find a way, not by struggling in the direction of the road, but by turning east toward the deeper forest. I emerged very cut up, with ruined clothes and trembling with exhaustion. At no time was I lost in the strict sense of the word. But I was in brush so thick and thorny that movement became very, very difficult, and so it didn’t matter that I knew where I wanted to go. I am sure furthermore that this is not the worst the brush can throw at you. There are briar patches out there you can definitely die in, though perhaps this was just the kind you can get really frustrated in.
The question that emerges from this adventure, for me, is why the hell a graveyard full of historic markers is in such dismal condition? I travel often in this area, which is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, and I have photographed dozens of abandoned structures that have been left to decay and fall down. Some of them are examples of colonial-era hand-built construction techniques. Pictures of many of them are on this site. Yet I don’t feel moved to beat up on the NPS, because I know they don’t have a lot of money, and they have saved and helped NGOs to preserve a number of structures in the area. Still, how much money and effort does it take to keep the brush down at a small, historic burial ground? There must be more to this, and I plan to contact them to find out why they are pursuing this policy of neglect. The Vancampens and others buried here were among the pioneers of our state. When the Federal Government acquired this land they acquired the responsibility to care for the historic places on it, and that responsibility is clearly not being discharged.
- If you’re interested, there is a list of burials in the Vancampen (or Calno) Cemetery that was compiled by a contractor during the Tocks Island dam project in the 1970’s.
- There is also a gallery of images of the stones I was able to reach: Click Here to View the Gallery
Mark, I’ve commented before about this cemetery but didn’t find these photographs until last night. I was thrilled to see some of my relatives’ graves. Would you mind if I used some of the photographs to post on ancestry.com? I would, of course, be giving you credit and an explanation of your efforts. By the way, I think “Heron” was “Theron” and that wives kept their maiden names only for the headstones. My great grandmother actually remarried after my great grandfather’s death but was interred with him there at Van Campen Cemetery and used her maiden name. Lucky for us “genies” (genealogists)!
Hi, PJ. You’re welcome to post those pictures on Ancestry.com. If there is anything else I can do to help let me know, and thanks for stopping by.
There are many small cemeteries scattered throughout the park system on both sides of the river. As you’ve noticed, most of them are quite overgrown. This is actually intentional on the part of the rangers, who don’t want the public to know where any of these cemeteries are located. Probably because they don’t have the manpower to protect them from vandals. I have tried asking rangers about the locations of cemeteries and had them play dumb in response, offering no assistance other than to say that yes there are several around both sides of the park system and that they are technically considered private property.
The ownership of these sites is somewhat of a gray area, and some rangers will tell you that the park system never acquired ownership of some of these cemeteries. So who owns them? A historical title investigation would probably show that some are still owned by the families that originally used them, or now-defunct religious congregations.
When the dam project was being planed the government put notices in the papers listing the names from headstones that had been discovered so that families that wanted to could have their relatives remains from these cemeteries relocated [the gov was willing to pay for it iirc]. Graves that weren’t to be relocated were to end up underwater, so it wouldn’t have mattered who owned the graveyard. But now that the dam didn’t happen & isn’t going to happen, no one knows what to do about all these graveyards. I guess the rangers are anticipating everything becoming forest eventually to make the matter moot.
I was here today exploring with a friend and as we were walking my friend noticed a headstone through the woods. As we approached we were stunned to see all of the headstones, foot stones and children’s headstones. What we thought was a small family plot turned out to be a rather large and overgrown cemetery, all with names of Van Campen, Sutton, Cole and DePue. A lot of Marthas and Moses’. Sadness overtook me as I thought of how the goverment took these people’s properties and forced families to scatter. What grieved me the most was seeing these families legacies fade away with the land. This site should be preserved, and after seeing the comments about the rangers playing dumb, they know where everything is. The state didn’t care enough about the cemetery and families to begin with, and you hit the nail right on the head that they will let nature take it’s course and the graves will be yet more stones in the woods.
Thanks for stopping by, Bryan. It’s hard not to have a sense of melancholy when we see once-cherished monuments fading back into the forest. After I first visited the site I contacted the park and had a note back from the chief archaeologist regarding responsibility for the burial ground. The Vancampen cemetery, along with a number of others, were left in private hands when the NPS took over the land. Up until a few decades ago there were some local relatives of those interred there who took it upon themselves to keep it in good shape, but they have since passed on. I wouldn’t let it bother you too much. The fate of this cemetery is, after all, the eventual fate of all cemeteries. Glad you enjoyed your visit, and I hope you found the brambles a lot easier to navigate than I did.
Nice article and thank you. I hope to get up there next year to visit the cemetery. The VanCampens are related to me on my Dad’s Mom Side. It is a shame the cemetery looks the way it does. Thank you Mark for going to the effort. I do hope the federal government will take some responsibility for taking care of this historical place.
Thank you for writing this article. I have my 4th, 5th, and 6th great grandfather’s buried here in this forgotten cemetery. My grandmother was Laura Van Campen. I have been tracing the family lineage for a few years now. I’m thrilled to find this site, and saddened that it is uncared for. I hope to travel to it this year and photograph the grave sites with my husband. My family would be willing to participate in finding a way to preserve and support the upkeep of the cemetery. Please contact me with any information you find that I can follow up with to promote this. I have a public family tree on ancestry that I use to document and share my finds. I’d like to contact the land owners and see if they are open to talking about preservation.
Hi, Laura. Thanks for stopping by. My understanding, as of the last email exchange I had with the NPS about two years ago, is that the plot of land containing the cemetery is in private hands. So you would likely need to begin with either the NPS itself, or the local township clerk, in order to determine who the owner currently is. The cemetery is located in the former Pahaquarry township. I think, but cannot say for certain, that the Pahaquarry records were transferred to Walpack. You might start with the historical society there, which has offices off of Main Street in the old village. Good luck! If you decide to visit the graves be careful of the brambles.
Hi Mark, I just came across your article on the Van Campen Cemetery. It was so much fun to read because I had the same experience when I was there in 2007. I traveled from Iowa to go to “VanCampen Day” in October of 2007. My grandmother was a Van Campen so I wanted to see the old family homestead. I had such a wonderful experience until I got to the cemetery to see how over grown it was at that time. I too, tried to move through the cemetery and had the same feeling and many scratches that do described. Thank you for sharing this and the photos. I hope that some day something can be done to clear this area again. I was also wondering if I could use some of your photos to add to my Van Campen family tree. Thank you again. Doug
Hi, Doug. Thanks for stopping by. You’re welcome to use any of the photos for non-commercial purposes.
Stumbled onto this website with its beautiful photos and interesting articles.
I knew a man who had once took part in keeping such burial sites maintained further up river within the park. Most were originally small neighborhood burial grounds or family plots.. stated as exemptions within deeds – connecting them to the original family or founders.
The National Park Service therefore neither owns nor has any responsibility to care for these plots. When there were family descendants living, often they used to take care of such sites in the past. Sadly, many left the area or have themselves passed on. Most park rangers truly do not know the names of these burial grounds or where they are – just that they do exist.
As to the one in Pahaquarry – that township was dissolved in 1997 and was added to Hardwick Township, Warren county, NJ. I would assume the records are now there or at the Warrren county level. Great project for an Eagle Scout or history group.
This has been a great experience pouring over these photos and comments. My Great Grandmother Elizabeth Schoonmaker-DePue-Van Campen was buried here February 1828. Thanks for the legacy you have left to us. Abandoned cemeteries are difficult to preserve as the counties and townships do not have the funds for upkeep unless they are located in a municipality. These cemeteries are hallowed ground and have been consecrated by those who are buried there. If I win the lottery, I will preserve it.
I spend a lot of time in this area mostly north by Flatbrookville and Walpack. I had planned on hiking what I refer to as the southern part of the park this spring. With out a doubt rich in history. I planned on hiking to the Depue grave site but will look for this one with the appropriate gear. If we do make it in as always we will leave flowers and take nothing but photos. I feel strongly that these places should be maintained at least by mowing. Out of curiosity is there a noticeable path into it or a maker off the lane. Not clear of the satellite imagery.
Hi, Mike. I haven’t been there in four or five years now, so I am not sure what the current conditions are. The last time I was there no path was evident from the lane north to the graves, however two of the newer stones were just visible from the lane, which is how I finally found it. I was told that one of the houses on the property burned last year, so there may have been further disruption to the area since my last visit. Good luck, and have fun.
Hey just wanted to give you a quick heads up and let you know a few of
the pictures aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue.
I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same results.
Thanks for the heads up. I just ran through the gallery in Chrome and everything appears to be loading. Perhaps it was a temporary network issue. I’ll keep an eye on it.
Hi Mark
If you have the time could you scribble a rough map for me and send to my email. I just cant find it. I must be in the wrong area. Leaves are coming down now gonna try again.
Kind Regards
Mike
Mike, see this map: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0558865,-75.0036935,18z
That side road leads east off of Old Mine just south of Millbrook, and runs past the old Ribble place. Just north of the road is a low bit with a creek. On the other side of it is some higher ground and the cemetery is there. Let me know if you still can’t find it, and perhaps we can get together and I can show you where it is.
Mark,
Enjoying exploring your blog. You and your readers may be interested in additional Van Campen family history on a site I published in honor of Moses Van Campen. Name and URL are “Moses Van Campen … In Tribute” http://www.MosesVanCampen.com
Regards,
David
Interesting site, David. Nice work, and thanks for sharing the link.
It is interesting to note that there is a rear entrance to this old burial ground as I have entered into it many times and have the SCARS to prove it. Back by the red barns, deeper into the woods, far behind the main cemetery there are a few more scattered graves with the remains of old metal post, most likely a separate family plot. A ranger told be that it is surviving family members responsibility to maintain this cemetery as it is NOT considered Federal land. What? He may be right about that. I was there in July of 2014 and NO FLAGS were placed on the veterans graves as is the custom of doing so. It is impossible to do that honorable deed in this tick-ridden old cemetery. So if the facts are true – where are the relatives that most likely still live nearby?? There are VanCampens, Depues, etc. names still found in Warren County! I am heading back this spring to attempt more rubbings. I hope I make it out alive…. anyone UP FOR A CEMETERY TRIP ??
If it’s behind the red barns then you would be talking about the old Depue burial ground, off Hamilton Trail. It’s a different, and much smaller, cemetery, but just as interesting.
Mark, I just found your photo gallery of the Calno-VanCampen cemetery. Prior to that, I was prepared to gather all my tools and ammunition and take a day to
clean it up. We have the necessary equipment. Now, I’m wondering if it’s a lost cause! What do you think? If we could get a “group” together and meet some comfortable day this Spring it might be a possibility to get the job done. A group of my Ribbles are buried there! Is there any interest in this group project? We’re in!
Hi, Marie. Well, two things worth bearing in mind: the first is that my photo trip out there was something like five years ago now, so I really don’t know what the current condition of the site is. The second is that these cemeteries, most or all of them as far as I know and definitely the Van Campen plot, were not deeded over to the government during the whole Tock Island fiasco, so they remain private land. That said, I’d certainly be a fan of anyone who had the means and determination to keep it up. The fate of old cemeteries is more often than not to fade away. Good luck!
Wow, this is amazing. I was a VanCampen up until my mother married and my step father adopted me. I grew up in Rochester, NY where my grandfather Albert VanCampen relocated to for work from Wilkes-Barre/Beaumont area in PA. You know I can look at the family tree we have in the family and look back all the to 1659 when we came over, but until I found this I never really quite understood how prolific the VanCampens were.
Thank you so much for this article and the time you took to photograph the stones you could find. I’m living in Brooklyn and it’s safe to say I’ll be making a pilgrimage out there this Spring.
Mark, We went out for a Sunday drive to find the Van Campen cemetery, but I could not find it. Any way to narrow down exactly where it is?
Hi, Paul. I haven’t been out there for 5 or 6 years now but you should find the burial ground approximately here: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.055792,-75.0045716,18.34z
If you turn off Old Mine onto the farm lane shown, the burial ground is a short walk through the woods north of the lane. Last time I was there a couple of newer stones were visible from the lane if you looked carefully, but they may very well be overgrown now.
Thanks Mark. Went there today. Someone had been to the cemetery and clipped about 50% of the area of the thornbushes. They clipped them, not removed them. Still alot of the head stones are surrounded with thorn bushes so you can still find lots of places to get scratched by thorns. If anyone plans on going there bring some clippers and gloves. If everyone who goes there does that and spends a few minutes doing some clipping it will help keep down the thornbushes. Plus there might be more gravestones hidden in the brush/stickers. I plan on returning soon to do some triming before the spring growth has the bushes/vines take over again.
In case anyone is having a problem finding the place, here are some easy instructions. Look for the two big red barns on the main road. Park there and walk out to the street. With your back toward the barns walk down the street to your right about 200-300 feet and on the other side of the street you will see a simple pole gate to keep cars from going into/onto the property. Ignore the home that is to your right when you are standing at the gate. Walk around the gate and keep walking on the grass keeping the trees and wild bushes close on your left and you will soon see basically a dirt driveway going further in towards the woods away from the main road. About 1,500 plus feet down the dirt/grass drive way a house will appear on a slight hill to your right. Before you are along side of that house look to your left and you will see a very very small creek on your left next to the driveway/road. Look for a very very simple almost invisible foot bridge that you can walk over the tiny creek. With your back toward the house look up the slight hill when you are on the that tiny bridge and you are looking at the cemetery. On May 3, 2018 when we were there you could see a path going up a small slope and one large grave marker looking down at you. Just start walking a few steps into the bushes and you will walk right into the cemetery. I hope you enjoy finding your relatives as much as we did finding our great great great great great great grandparents.
Thank you Mark for your great web site here and thank you to the people who did all the triming of those terrible vines. If everyone does a little triming and clipping we can reclaim the cemetery from the forest. FYI all the buildings on this hike are empty. When you are done at the cemetery continue dowthe road/drive up to the house and the barns and check out the beautiful lake.
Mark,
Do you know where the Dupue cemetery is in relation to the Van Campen cemetery? I thought it was in the forest right around or behind the Van Campen cemetery. Any idea how far and in what direction in relationship to the Van Campen cemetery or the barns that are at the house by the cemetery? Thanks in advance.
Hi, Paul. The Depue/Depew cemetery is actually on the other side of Old Mine Road, a bit up Hamilton Trail off to the left in the woods. Google Maps no longer shows it or much other detail around the park but here is a mapquest link: http://mapq.st/2KGZyU7
There is, or was at least, a sign marking the spot where a small trail exits to the left off Hamilton Trail and leads to the burial ground, which is in a heavily forested area. It’s actually not far at all off Hamilton Trail, perhaps 25-50 yards, but the stones are very old and difficult to see in among the trees until you are on top of them. Quite a surreal and melancholy spot.
–Mark
Mark, Thanks for all the information. I did find the Hamilton Trail (thank you) and walked up it. I could not find or see the Depue/Depew cemetery. When you walk past the gate that stops cars from going up the Hamilton Trail, how far up on the left is the cemetery? After a short way the trail splits to the right, is it before or after the split?
Hi, Paul. That right turn (I remember it more as a right than a split to the right, but I haven’t been up there in awhile) is the lower portion of the old Ridge Rd. coming down to join Hamilton Road. That section of Ridge isn’t even shown on modern maps. You have to go back to historical topos to find it labelled. In the mid-19th century there was a schoolhouse on the ne corner at that intersection. The Depew burial ground is before the intersection, off in the woods on the west side of Hamilton. I haven’t had any luck locating a map that shows the location, and I guess from your report that the small blue sign that used to mark the entrance to the trail is no longer present. About all I can tell you is that the headstones were scattered among a group of mature trees about 100′ off the road to the west.
(Sorry, I posted this at a different spot on your website in error). Staff of the New Hope Colony Foundation for the Arts, a fairly new organization in Phillips Mill, Solebury Township, Bucks County, were recently doing some work on the grounds of their property. In their work area, they found a headstone for Susan (1815-1872), wife of Elijah Van Campen. They asked Solebury Township Historical Society for assistance in identifying where the headstone came from, who the deceased was, and perhaps where the headstone could be returned. Our research has produced a good family tree for Susan (we’re still working on it), and we’re pretty sure Susan most likely was buried in the Calno-Van Campen Cemetery, but it’s a mystery how the headstone got moved from that cemetery in Warren County NJ to Solebury Township in Bucks County, PA. We found this article; we hope that some VanCampen descendents or other interested parties can offer information.
That’s pretty fascinating, Wendy. Are they sure about the origin of the headstone? There were Van Campens living all over that region as far as I know. In any case it will be interesting to learn how it turns out in the end. Headstones were often removed from old cemeteries for various reasons, but for one to be transported that far strikes me as uncommon. I haven’t been back to that spot for quite some time now, but it was very difficult to access the last time I was there, and I suspect there are lots more stones in the undergrowth than are visible above it. Thanks again for the story!